Air treating system



y 1955 A. Y. noose 2,708,834-

AIR TREATING SYSTEM Filed May 10, 1954 IN V EN TOR.

BY JaQ/%Qavk 6 ATTORNEYS.

United States Patent AIR TREATING SYSTEM Adiel Y. Dodge, Rockford, Ill.

Application May 10, 1954, Serial No. 428,434

Claims. (Cl. 62-136) This invention relates generally to an air treating system and more particularly to summer air conditioners for cooling and dehumidifying air to be circulated through a dwelling space. The present case is a continuation in part of my copending application Serial No. 374,794, Air Treating System, filed August 17, 1953, now abandoned.

It is one of the objects of the present invention to provide an air treating system for cooling and dehumidifying air which utilizes circulating air as a refrigerant fluid.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an air treating system which will remove both water condensate and warm and humid air from the circulating air.

A further object is to provide air treating system in which the circulating air is cooled and dehumidified by removal of water condensate and warm and humid air therefrom.

A still further object is to provide an air treating system which employs the direct expansion of circulating air as a co n m According to one feature, air is drawn from the space to be conditioned and compressed by means of a pump. The compressed air is delivered to a cooler and thereafter to an expansion means for removing energy from the compressed air by permitting it to expand and do work. The expanded air is then directed to a nozzle for further expansion to aspirate a stream of circulating air and to effect a direct cooling thereof. The resulting injected air is then separated by centrifugal force into condensate, dry cool air, and humid air. The dry cool air may then be introduced to the space to be conditioned, and the humid air recirculated to effect a further dehumidification and to conserve the cooling effect already performed thereon.

Another object of the present invention is to employ compressed air as a refrigerant fluid by allowing it to expand and thereby perform work, and to further expand and thereby accelerate and cool a stream of circulating air.

The above and other objects and features of the invention will be more readily apparent from the following description when read in connection with the accompanying drawing in which:

Figure 1 is a diagrammatic side elevation, with parts broken away and in section, of an air treating system constructed in accordance with the present invention.

Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view along line 22 of Figure 1, showing the relation between the injector and the, vortex dehumidifier.

Referring more particularly to Figure 1 of the drawing, there is shown an air treating system constructed in accordance with the present'invention. Air is drawn from a dwelling-place, or other suitable space to be air conditioned, through a grated opening 11 of an inlet duct 12. A portion of this air is by-passed through a feed inlet 14 to a pump 15. The pump 15, as shown, may be of the type disclosed in my prior patent, No. 2,197,492, and serves to effect the compression of the by-pass portion of the inlet stream. The compressed air is directed from the pump 15 to a cooling coil 16, enclosed within a cooling tank 17, which will be described in greater detail below.

The compressed air passes from the cooling tank 17 to the upper portion of a condensate receptacle 18. The receptacle 18 is provided with a water level responsive valve 19 to automatically discharge condensate as it accumulates.

The compressed air is then directed from the condensate receptacle 18 to an air motor 20. The motor 20 is provided with an inlet line 51 and an outlet line 52. The motor is of the well known type comprising a rotor shaft 54, a stator 56, and a plurality of radially reciprocable rotor blades 58. A drive chain or belt 60 serves to connect the shaft 54 of the motor 20 to the corresponding rotor shaft of the pump 15. In this way, the compressed air entering the motor 20 through the inlet line 51 will expand and perform work so as to drive the, air motor. It will be apparent that the air motor 20 provides a means for removing energy from the compressed air, thereby effecting a cooling thereof. The energy thus removed is utilized to supplement the drive for the pump 15.

The expanded air leaves the motor 20 through the outlet line 52 and is directed to a nozzle 22. The air which issues from the nozzle 22 is directed through an injector means 24 which is in the form of a venturi passage to effect an acceleration and further expansion of the flow of air therethrough.

As the air, which has been delivered from the compressor pump 15 through the air pump 20, is ejected from the nozzle 22 through the injector venturi 24, it effects an aspiration of the inlet air in the duct 12. This air, which is set into motion by the velocity of the air stream emitted from the nozzle and injector, is directly cooled by the expanded air which has been lowered in temperature because of its expansion and energy removal in the air motor 20 and its additional expansion and energy removal through the injector 24. In this manner the inlet air stream will be cooled and accelerated as it is directed through an inlet conduit 26 of a vortex chamber 28. The inlet conduit 26 is arranged tangentially with respect to the cylindrical wall 29 of the vortex chamber 28, as clearly shown in Figure 2.

The vortex chamber 28 provides a centrifugal separator of the general type described in my copending application, Serial No. 322,122, filed November 22, 1952, now Patent No. 2,676,667, or in my prior patent, No. 2,519,028. The vortex chamber 28 differs from the showings of my prior application and patent in that it is not provided with cooling coils or a cooling jacket. A layer of insulation 31 is provided to minimize heat transfer through the wall 29. As described in my pending application and prior patent, the centrifugal force set up by the vortex which results from the tangentially admitted high velocity stream of air causes droplets of water condensate to move to the outer periphery of the chamber and collect on the inner wall thereof. Such condensate drains down the wall by gravity and is discharged through an outlet and trap 30. Because of the fact that warm and humid air is considerably lighter than dry air, it will tend to seek the center of the core of the vortex. Such air is skimmed off by louvers 32 of a centrally positioned return pipe 34, and is recirculated to the inlet duct 12 so that its relatively lower temperature as compared to that of the incoming circulating air, which results from the cooling effect of the compressed air injection, will not be lost and will contribute a cooling effect to the relatively warmer incoming air. A flow control 35 is provided to regulate the quantity of recirculated cooled air. The vortex chamber 28 functions in the manner described to separate dehumidified air from the recirculated water-vapor laden air.

The air thus treated is delivered from the vortex chamber 28 through an outlet pipe 36 to an outlet duct 38, from which it is delivered through a grating 39 to the dwelling-place. The air so passing through the pipe 36 and duct 38 has been cooled and dchumidified as a result of the compressed air expansion and the aspiration of incoming air into, and the centrifugal separation of, the vortex chamber 28. Where the circulating ducts l2 and 38 are of extensive length, it may be desirable to include a booster fan 40 in the return duct 38 to assist the circulation of air therethrough.

It will appear that l have provided an air treating system in which a portion of the air from the space to be treated is compressed and later expanded to effect a direct cooling of additional air from the space to be cooled. The energy of such compressed air performs work during its cooling expansion by accelerating incoming air through a vortex dehumidifier. In this manner a single compressor provides the necessary work for effecting both cooling and dehumidification, while utilizing the air itself as a refrigerant fluid.

The cooling tank 17 may be of any suitable heat exchanger type. In the form which I have illustrated, I provide an outer chamber to which water may be admitted, as at pipe 42, for flow past the cooling coils 16. Such cooling water may be exhausted by means of an outlet pipe 43.

As a further modification, i may provide the pipe 43 with two branches, 44 and 45, each provided with a conventional valve flow control. By such an arrangement, a portion of the cooling water is by-passed through pipe 44 into an auxiliary heat exchanger 48. Such practice may be desirable in cases where greater emphasis is placed on dehumidification than on cooling. In such instances, the system may be operated so as to effect a cooling of the inlet air below the desired outlet temperature in order to effect extreme dehumidification. Such over-cooled air may be raised in temperature to the desired level before it is discharged from the circulating duct 33 by the auxiliary heat exchanger 48.

While one embodiment of the invention has been shown and described in detail it will be understood that this is illustrative only and is not to be taken as a definition of the invention, reference being had for this purpose to the appended claims.

I claim:

1. in an air treating system of the type comprising an air inlet duct and an air outlet duct, a pump for compressing inlet air and delivering a flow of compressed air, a heat exchanger for cooling said compressed air, means for removing energy from said compressed air by permitting it to expand and perform work, means for mixing said expanded air with a stream of inlet air, a centrifugal separator of substantially circular cross section having a tangential inlet and a tangential outlet, means for directing the combined flow of said expanded air and said inlet air to the tangential inlet of said separator whereby a vortex is produced therein, and dischar e means adapted to deliver the flow from the tangential outlet of said separator to the air outlet duct.

2 In an air treating system of the type comprising an air inlet duct and an air outlet duct, a pump for compressing inlet air and delivering a flow of compressed air, a heat exchanger for cooling said compressed air, means for removing energy from said compressed air by permitting it to expand and perform work, means for mixing said expanded air with a stream of inlet air, a centrifugal separator of substantially circular cross section having a tangential inlet and a tangential outlet, means for di recting the combined flow of said expanded air and said inlet air to the tangential inlet of said separator whereby a vortex is produced therein, means to collect condensed moisture separated from the peripheral portion of said vortex, a recirculating conduit to collect air from the central portion of said vortex, said conduit being adapted to return said collected air to the air inlet duct, and discharge means adapted to deliver the fiow from the tangential outlet of said separator to the air outlet duct.

3. In an air treating system of the type comprising an air inlet duct and an air outlet duct, a pump for compressing inlet air and delivering a flow of compressed air, a heat exchanger for cooling said compressed air, an air pump for removing energy from said compressed air by permitting it to expand and perform work, injector means permitting said expanded air to expand further and accelerate and cool a stream of inlet air, a centrifugal separator of substantially circular cross section having a tangential inlet and a tangential outlet, means for directing the combined flow of said expanded air and said accelerated and cooled inlet air to the tangential inlet of said separator whereby a vortex is produced therein, and discharge means adapted to deliver the flow from the tangential outlet of said separator to the air outlet duct.

4. In an air treating system of the type comprising an air inlet and an air outlet duct, a pump for compressing inlet air and delivering a flow of compressed air, a heat exchanger for cooling said compressed air, an air pump for removing energy from said compressed air by permitting it to expand and perform work, an injector comprising a venturi passage adapted to be positioned in the air inlet duct to receive said expanded air and effect an acceleration and further expansion thereof whereby a surrounding stream of inlet air is aspirated and cooled, a centrifugal separator of substantially circular cross section having a tangential inlet and a tangential outlet, means for directing said expanded air and cooled inlet air to the tangential inlet of said separator whereby a vortex is produced therein, means to collect condensed moisture separated from the peripheral portion of said vortex, a recirculating conduit to collect air from the central portion of said vortex, said conduit being adapted to return said collected air to the air inlet duct, and discharge means adapted to deliver the flow from the tangential outlet of said separator to the air outlet duct.

5. In an air treating system of the type comprising an air inlet duct and an air outlet duct, a pump for compressing inlet air and delivering a flow of compressed air, a heat exchanger for cooling said compressed air, injector means employing said compressed air to expand and accelerate and cool a stream of inlet air, a centrifugal separator of substantially circular cross section having a tangential inlet and a tangential outlet, means for directing the flow from said injector to the tangential inlet of said separator whereby a vortex is produced therein, means to collect condensed moisture separated from the peripheral portion of said vortex, a recirculating conduit to collect air from the central portion of said vortex, said conduit being adapted to return said collected air to the air inlet duct, and discharge means adapted to deliver the flow from the tangential outlet of said separator to the air outlet duct.

6. In an air treating system of the type comprising an air inlet duct and an air outlet duct, a pump for compressing inlet air and delivering a flow of compressed air, a first heat exchanger for cooling said compressed air, injector means employing said compressed air to expand and accelerate and cool a stream of inlet air, a centrifugal separator of substantially circular cross section having a tangential inlet and a tangential outlet, means for directing the flow from said injector to the tangential inlet of said separator whereby a vortex is produced therein, means to collect condensed moisture separated from the peripheral portion of said vortex, a recirculating conduit to collect air from the central portion of said vortex, said conduit being adapted to return said collected air to the air inlet duct, discharge means adapted to deliver the flow from the tangential outlet of said separator to the air outlet duct, and a second heat exchanger adapted to return heat absorbed from the compressed air by said first heat exchanger to the flow of air in the air outlet duct.

7. An air treating system comprising an air inlet duct, a pump for compressing inlet air and delivering a fiow of compressed air, a first heat exchanger for cooling said compressed air, injector means employing said compressed air to accelerate and cool a stream of inlet air, a centrifugal separator of substantially circular cross section having a tangential inlet and a tengential outlet, means for directing the flow from said injector to the tangential inlet of said separator whereby a vortex is produced therein, means to collect moist air from the central portion of said vortex and return said collected air to said air inlet duct, an air outlet duct, discharge means to deliver the flow from the tangential outlet of said separator to said air outlet duct, and a second heat exchanger positioned in said outlet duct and operatively connected to said first heat exchanger whereby heat absorbed from the compressed air by said first heat exchanger may be returned to the flow of air in said outlet duct.

8. In an air treating system of the type comprising an air inlet duct and an air outlet duct, a pump for compressing inlet air and delivering a flow of compressed air, a heat exchanger for cooling said compressed air, an injector comprising a venturi passage adapted to be positioned in the air inlet duct to receive said compressed air and effect an acceleration and expansion thereof whereby a surrounding stream of inlet air is aspirated and cooled, a centrifugal separator of substantially circular cross section having a tangential inlet and a tan gential outlet, means for directing said expanded air and cooled inlet air to the tangential inlet of said separator whereby a vortex is produced therein, means to collect condensed moisture separated from the peripheral portion of said vortex, a recirculating conduit to collect air from the central portion of said vortex, said conduit being adapted to return said collected air to the air inlet duct, and discharge means adapted to deliver the flow from the tangential outlet of said separator to the air outlet duct.

9. An air treating system comprising an air inlet duct, a pump for compressing inlet air and delivering a flow of compressed air, a heat exchanger for cooling said compressed air, an injector comprising a venturi passage adapted to be positioned in the air inlet duct to receive said compressed air and elfect an acceleration and expansion thereof whereby a surrounding stream of inlet air is aspirated and cooled, a centrifugal separator of substantially circular cross section having a tangential inlet and a tangential outlet, means for directing the flow from said injector to the tangential inlet of said separator whereby a vortex is produced therein, means to collect moist air from the central portion of said vortex and return said collected air to said air inlet duct, an air outlet duct, and discharge means to deliver the flow from the tangential outlet of said separator to said air outlet duct.

10. In an air treating system of the type comprising an air inlet duct and an air outlet duct, a pump for compressing inlet air and delivering a flow of compressed air, a heat exchanger for cooling said compressed air, an injector comprising a venturi passage adapted to be positioned in the air inlet duct to receive said compressed air and efiect an acceleration and expansion thereof whereby a surrounding stream of inlet air is aspirated and cooled, a centrifugal separator of substantially circular cross section having a tangential inlet and a tangential outlet, means for directing said expanded air and cooled inlet air to the tangential inlet of said separator whereby a vortex is produced therein, means to collect condensed moisture separated from the peripheral portion of said vortex, and discharge means adapted to deliver the flow from the tangential outlet of said separator to the air outlet duct.

Dodge Apr. 16, 1940 Dodge Apr. 27, 1954 

